batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l4492-l4586
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg-l4492-l4586
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
passage_locator:
label: BOOK VIII / BOOK IX / BOOK X / AEOLUS, THE LAESTRYGONES, CIRCE.; lines 4492-4586
start: '4492'
end: '4586'
translation: The Odyssey
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Circe receives Odysseus's companions into her house, drugs their food and
drink, and transforms them into pigs while their minds remain human. Eurylochus
escapes and reports the event to Odysseus. Odysseus arms himself and goes to rescue
them. Mercury meets him, gives him the herb Moly as protection, and instructs
him how to resist Circe and compel her oath. Odysseus drinks Circe's drugged mixture
unharmed, threatens her with his sword, and Circe recognizes him as Ulysses and
proposes reconciliation through bed and trust.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Circe invites the men into her house after they call to her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:2
text: Circe prepares a mixture with cheese, honey, meal, and Pramnian wine and drugs
it with poisons intended to make the men forget their homes.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: After the men drink, Circe strikes them with her wand and turns them into
pigs, while their senses and memories remain unchanged.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The transformed men are shut in pigstyes and fed acorns and beech mast.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: Eurylochus stays outside because he suspects treachery and later reports the
companions' disappearance and fate to Odysseus.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Odysseus takes a bronze sword and bow and goes inland toward Circe's house
despite Eurylochus's fear.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Mercury meets Odysseus near Circe's house, disguised as a young man and carrying
a golden wand.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Mercury gives Odysseus a protective herb and explains that it will prevent
Circe's spells from working.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Mercury instructs Odysseus to draw his sword when Circe strikes him with her
wand and to require her solemn oath against further mischief.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The herb Moly has a black root and a flower white as milk; gods can uproot
it though mortal men cannot.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Circe gives Odysseus a drugged drink in a golden goblet, but it does not charm
him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Odysseus rushes at Circe with his drawn sword; she screams, clasps his knees,
questions him, and identifies him as Ulysses.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Circe says Mercury had foretold that bold Ulysses would come to her island
on his way home from Troy.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Circe
description: A woman or goddess, later called the enchantress Circe, who works at
her loom, sings, receives visitors, drugs them, and uses a wand to transform or
attempt to transform them.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Eurylochus
description: A companion who remains outside Circe's house because he suspects mischief
and then reports the event to Odysseus.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ulysses
description: The speaker and hero who arms himself, goes to Circe's house, receives
Mercury's aid, resists Circe's drug, and threatens her with a sword.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Mercury
description: A divine figure with a golden wand, disguised as a young man, who gives
Odysseus the herb Moly and instructions for dealing with Circe.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Odysseus's companions
description: Men who enter Circe's house, drink the drugged mixture, are transformed
into pigs, and are shut in pigstyes while retaining their senses and memories.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: enchantress and hostile host
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Circe welcomes the men into her house but drugs them and transforms them
with a wand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: recognizer of Ulysses
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After her drug fails, Circe identifies the visitor as bold Ulysses foretold
by Mercury.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: suspicious survivor and messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Eurylochus stays outside from suspicion and returns to report what happened.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: armed rescuer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Odysseus takes sword and bow and goes to Circe's house to seek his companions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: spell-resistant hero
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Odysseus drinks Circe's drugged mixture without being charmed after receiving
the protective herb.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: divine helper and instructor
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Mercury gives Odysseus a protective herb and tells him how to counter Circe's
witchcraft.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: transformed captives
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The companions are turned into pigs and confined in pigstyes while retaining
their minds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wand of transformation
literal_form: Circe's wand used to strike victims after they drink the drugged mixture
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:2
label: drugged meal and drink
literal_form: Mixture of cheese, honey, meal, and Pramnian wine, drugged with poisons
or witchcraft
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: pig form
literal_form: Human companions changed into pigs with pig heads, hair, grunting,
and confinement in pigstyes
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: Moly herb
literal_form: Protective herb with black root and white flower
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- milk
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: drawn sword
literal_form: Odysseus's bronze sword used to threaten Circe after the spell fails
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: Circe's house in the forest
literal_form: A fine stone house in the middle of the forest or charmed grove, visible
from far away
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:7
label: mountain top route
literal_form: The mountain-top path over which Odysseus travels alone toward Circe's
house
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Companions ensnared in Circe's house
summary: Circe invites Odysseus's companions inside, gives them a drugged mixture,
turns them into pigs with her wand, and confines them in pigstyes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Eurylochus reports the loss
summary: Eurylochus, who did not enter the house, returns distressed and tells Odysseus
that the others went in and did not come out.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Odysseus sets out to rescue the men
summary: Odysseus arms himself and goes inland toward Circe despite Eurylochus's
plea that he remain with the surviving crew.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Mercury gives Moly and instructions
summary: Mercury meets Odysseus near Circe's house, gives him the protective herb
Moly, and tells him how to resist Circe's drink, wand, and further plotting.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:3
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:5
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Circe's spell fails against Odysseus
summary: Circe gives Odysseus a drugged drink and strikes him with her wand, but
he is not charmed; he rushes at her with his sword, and she recognizes him as
Ulysses.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: human companions transformed into animals by an enchantress
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Circe drugs Odysseus's companions and changes them into pigs while their
minds remain human.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy ref is approximate because the passage depicts imposed transformation
rather than a figure changing its own shape.
- id: motif:2
label: protective magical plant supplied by a divine helper
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mercury gives Odysseus Moly, an herb that prevents Circe's spells from working.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No specific taxonomy reference among the supplied motif families exactly
names this plant-protection pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: hero resists witchcraft and compels the enchantress to negotiate
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: Following Mercury's instructions, Odysseus withstands Circe's drug and wand,
threatens her with a sword, and receives her recognition and proposal of trust.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The initiation taxonomy ref is broad; the passage gives a trial and instruction
sequence but does not explicitly name an initiation.
- id: motif:4
label: divine helper gives foreknowledge before a dangerous encounter
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Mercury warns Odysseus of Circe's intended actions and gives detailed instructions
for how to survive them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The wisdom taxonomy ref is broad and should be reviewed.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 4492-4507
quote_or_summary: Circe invites the companions inside, seats them, gives them a
drugged mixture of cheese, honey, meal, and Pramnian wine, strikes them with her
wand, turns them into pigs while their minds remain intact, confines them, and
feeds them pig food.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 4508-4530
quote_or_summary: Eurylochus returns in distress and reports that the party found
a woman or goddess at a loom in a fine stone house in the forest; he stayed outside
suspecting treachery, while the others entered and did not return.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 4531-4545
quote_or_summary: Odysseus takes his bronze sword and bow and says he must go, though
Eurylochus begs not to return to Circe's house and urges escape with the remaining
men.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 4546-4560
quote_or_summary: On the way through the charmed grove toward Circe's house, Odysseus
meets Mercury with a golden wand, disguised as a young man; Mercury tells him
his men are in pigstyes and offers a protective herb.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 4561-4574
quote_or_summary: Mercury explains that Circe will drug a drink but the herb will
block her spells; he tells Odysseus to draw his sword when she strikes with her
wand and to make her swear not to plot further harm.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: 4575-4579
quote_or_summary: "“The root was black, while the flower was as white as milk; the
gods call it Moly”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; short excerpt.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 4580-4586
quote_or_summary: Odysseus reaches Circe's gates, enters when she invites him, sits
on a silver-inlaid seat, and drinks from a drugged golden goblet; Circe strikes
him with her wand and orders him to the pigstye, but the charm fails.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: '4586'
quote_or_summary: Odysseus rushes at Circe with his drawn sword; she screams, clasps
his knees, asks who he is, says no man has resisted her drug before, identifies
him as Ulysses foretold by Mercury, and asks him to sheathe his sword and go to
bed so they may make friends and trust each other.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/odyssey-butler.md
rights_note: Public domain translation; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif-family
mappings are cautious because the available taxonomy does not include exact labels
for all observed patterns.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly support a cross-text or cross-tradition comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-odyssey-butler-gutenberg__l4492-l4586
passage_sha256=72d3a0ef5300244fcaa8efce70a780154f30dcca54b8e9031319e98d879a4090